Minutes of Special Meeting of Sligo Borough Council held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Sligo on Monday 15th December 2008 at 8.00 p.m.

IN ATTENDANCE:

Councillor V. Cawley, Mayor of Sligo (in the chair)
Councillor D. Bree
Councillor D. Cawley
Councillor J. Devins
Councillor A. Gibbons
Councillor J. McGoldrick
Councillor T. McLoughlin
Councillor C. MacManus
Councillor S. MacManus
Councillor T. Mc Sharry
Councillor R. O’Grady.

OFFICIALS PRESENT:

Mr. H. Kearns, County Manager and Meetings Administrator

At the beginning of the meeting the following statement in relation to behaviour at Council Meetings was read by the Mayor.

Before proceeding with the order of business this evening, I think it is very important that I as Mayor of Sligo Borough Council, make a comment on the circumstances which led to the adjournment of the November Monthly Meeting of this Council. The fact that all of the officials present left the meeting in protest leaves me with no option but to address this very serious issue.

Under Standing Orders the Mayor is responsible for the conduct of the Council meetings and is charged with maintaining order. It is my duty, to the best of my ability, to uphold the integrity of this Council and to safeguard the reputation and standing of all in attendance in this chamber.

The Council must operate with a high level of mutual respect between elected members and staff, any erosion of this respect has a serious affect on the reputation of the Council and all who work here both public representatives and staff alike. The Standing Orders of this Council which regulate the proceedings at meetings have clear provisions of conduct at meetings.

Standing Orders are broad enough to accommodate full and frank debate. Members have a duty to examine and debate decisions and actions of the Council but are obliged to do so without impugning the reputation of officials.

I also wish to focus on the role of Councillors generally in the conduct of meetings in fact there are a number of standing orders (39 – 44) which specifically cover conduct at meetings and it is intended that these will be strictly adhered to. Members have collective responsibility to ensure that our proceedings are carried out in a fair and dignified manner and in a way that protects members and staff from personal innuendo or harassment. The policy document “Dignity at Work” is recognized as providing a framework for dignity and mutual respect for all staff, members, customers, clients and business contacts of Sligo Borough Council. It also provides procedures and processes for resolving any problem that may arise.

I am anxious to ensure we have no repetition at our meetings of the events which took place at the November Monthly Meeting. I am therefore asking all members to keep this in mind as we deliberate to matters that come before us. I intend to manage the affairs of this Council in line with Standing Orders as these Standing Orders have been drawn up by the Council members themselves. I expect you all to abide by them.

1. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

The draft minutes of the November Monthly Meeting, held on November 3rd 2008, had been circulated; their adoption was proposed by Councillor D. Cawley seconded by Councillor Bree and they were unanimously adopted and signed by the Mayor.

2. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Councillor S. Mac Manus asked if any response had been received from the Department of Education to the recent resolution passed by the Council in relation to education cutbacks. The meeting was informed that no response had yet been received from the Department.

3. PROPOSAL TO RAISE A LOAN OF €4.5M TO FINANCE THE ENHANCEMENT OF O’CONNELL STREET

A lengthy discussion ensued on this item during which the following motions were tabled and considered.

Proposed by Councillor C. Mac Manus seconded by Councillor S. MacManus ‘Due to the
current adverse economic climate, that Sligo Borough Council agrees to not authorize a loan of €4.5M to proceed with the enhancement works of O’Connell Street.’

A poll was taken which resulted as follows:

For: Councillor Bree, Councillor V. Cawley, Councillor Gibbons, Councillor C. MacManus and Councillor S. MacManus (5)

Against: Councillor Devins, Councillor McGoldrick, Councillor McLoughlin, Councillor MacSharry and Councillor O’Grady (5)

Councillor Cawley abstained and Mayor voted in favour of the motion with her casting vote.

The motion was therefore agreed.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor S. MacManus seconded by Councillor Gibbons; ‘Because of the failure of the Government to provide funding under the Gateway Innovation Fund for the enhancement of O’Connell Street, this Borough Council calls on the County Manager to re-open O’Connell Street to vehicular traffic’.

A poll was taken which resulted as follows:

For: Councillor Bree, Councillor Gibbons, Councillor C. MacManus, Councillor S. MacManus and Councillor T MacSharry (5)

Against: Councillor D. Cawley, Councillor Devins, Councillor McGoldrick, Councillor McLoughlin and Councillor O’Grady (5)

The Mayor abstained but voted in favour of the motion with her casting vote. The motion was therefore agreed.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Bree seconded by Councillor D. Cawley;

‘That any decision in respect of raising loans be deferred until such time as the County Manager provides the Council with a comprehensive report (1) listing the projects he is recommending the Council should borrow money for in 2009 (2) identifying the level of annual repayments and (3) identifying where the Council is expected to find the money to make the repayments, and that a special meeting of the Council be convened as soon as the Manager has the required information available’.

The following amendment to this motion was proposed by Councillor Devins, seconded by Councillor O’Grady; ‘That as part of any future loan process the County Manager provides the Council with a comprehensive report (1) listing the projects he is recommending the Council should borrow money for in 2009 (2) identifying the level of annual repayments and (3) identifying where the Council is expected to find the money to make the repayments, and that a special meeting of the Council be convened as soon as the Manager has the required information available.’
Following a short discussion this amended motion was unanimously agreed.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Devins seconded by Councillor O’Grady;

’Sligo Borough Council examines the current O’Connell Street Plan with a view to revising the scheme, to ensure that the Council can be both financially prudent while ensuring O’Connell Street is upgraded. Further that as part of any tendering process it is explicably clear that any tenderers are aware that the project is subject to an approval in funding.’